Chilean animation studio Punkrobot has collaborated with the band Los Tres to bring the music videos for the singles 'Cantar y Amar' and 'Como llegaste te vas' to life. Part of their new album XCLNT, the project marks an aesthetic shift for the group, moving from the raw, live-action style of their previous videos to the vibrant language of animation.
Speaking to Culto, Punkrobot member Patricio Escala shared that the invitation came through the Havas agency. The studio, internationally acclaimed for its Oscar-winning short film 'Bear Story' (Historia de un oso), took on the commission as a high-level professional challenge.
“We received the invitation from Havas, an agency that works with Universal. They invited us to make the videos and played the songs for us,” Escala explained. For the team, working with a band of Los Tres' legendary status represented an opportunity to apply their technical expertise to an icon of national music.
Nostalgia and Iconic References
The first music video, 'Cantar y Amar,' uses animation to reconstruct key historical moments for the band. The piece features references to the Molina residence and the group's first gig in Concepción, weaving in elements of Chilean identity.
During the production process, the band played an active role in shaping the narrative. Escala noted that the musicians suggested details that enriched the story, such as the inclusion of barricades to reflect the protest atmosphere of their early years.
“They told us, ‘It would be nice if Don Robert could appear,’ so we added him to the Unplugged segment,” Escala detailed. Additionally, Pancho Molina contributed ideas regarding the urban setting to achieve greater historical accuracy.
The video also features a personal tribute, including a scene of Juanita Pettinelli—mother of Álvaro Henríquez—serving tea, an homage to the song 'Concepción' by Los Prisioneros. The Punkrobot team also recreated shots and styles from the band's classic music videos, such as 'Bolsa de Mareo.'
For the second single, 'Como llegaste te vas,' the studio explored an aesthetic inspired bycueca choraand the figure of Roberto Parra. The process involved collaboration with visual artist Garvo, who designed a protagonist inspired by the Chilean singer-songwriter.
“We took the responsibility of representing this image at its true level very seriously,” Escala stated, emphasizing the importance of honoring the influence of popular music on the band's visual identity.
